Stan Wawrinka has confirmed that 2026 will be his final season on the professional tour.
The Swiss veteran framed the decision as the end of a long, trophy-laden career that included Grand Slam breakthroughs, Olympic gold and a pivotal role in Switzerland’s Davis Cup success.
A Trophy-Laden Career
I still have dreams in this sport.
Stan Wawrinka
Wawrinka sits among the era’s great outsiders, a player who rose to the biggest moments and took three majors when it mattered most, earning a reputation for power, grit and that famed one-handed backhand.
The record is striking: the Swiss is a three-time Grand Slam champion who defeated the world number one in each of those finals, and he amassed 16 tour-level singles titles across a career that began in 2002.
The Announcement And What It Means
He posted the news on social platform X, describing 2026 as the final chapter and telling followers that it was time to bring his playing days to a planned close after a long career at the top levels.
The 40-year-old made clear he still wants to push his limits and finish on the best possible note, promising fans another season of competitive intent and emotional moments on the court.
Those highlights include an Australian Open win over Rafael Nadal in 2014, the French Open triumph against Novak Djokovic in 2015, and the memorable US Open victory over Djokovic in 2016.
Legacy And The Farewell Tour
Wawrinka also has a Masters 1000 title at Monte Carlo and an Olympic doubles gold medal from 2008, a trophy he shared with Roger Federer, and he featured centrally in Switzerland’s Davis Cup run in 2014.
His last singles trophy came in 2017, and while titles have been rarer since, his ability to lift his level on the game’s biggest stages kept him relevant and feared by top opponents.
The 2026 season starts for Wawrinka at the United Cup in Perth from 2 January, giving local fans an early opportunity to see him in team action before the main Australian swing begins in earnest.
Across social platforms and media outlets, tributes and memories have started to circulate, from his thunderous winners to match-winning rallies that defined so many nights at the majors.
History will remember him as one of the few players to lift Grand Slam trophies during the dominant eras of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic, a rare champion who turned up for the biggest tests and often won them.
As the tour prepares for his farewell, tournament narratives and match previews will carry that extra weight of finality, and broadcasters will point to the backhand that produced countless highlight reel moments over two decades.
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Christoph Friedrich is a German tennis player and coach currently residing in Oakland, California. He began his tennis journey at the age of eight and has since dedicated his life to the sport. After working as a tennis coach and hitting partner in New York City for eight years, Christoph decided to share his knowledge and experience with tennis players around the world by creating the My Tennis Expert blog. His goal is to make tennis education accessible to everyone and help players select the best equipment for their game, from racquets and strings to shoes and overgrips. Christoph's extensive research and expertise in tennis technology make him a valuable resource for players of all levels.
